Inmates at risk over doctors’ strike

DIABETIC prisoners or those on a methadone programme are among new inmates that could be put at risk by a planned prison doctors’ strike.

The State’s 25 prison doctors, most of whom are part-time, have given notice that they will withdraw services from next Tuesday.

A meeting on Thursday between doctors’ representatives and Prison Service director general Seán Aylward failed to head off the strike action. While an emergency service has been offered, prison management has to provide for normal day-to-day cover, said the Irish Medical Organisation, which claims the Department of Finance is refusing to release cash to satisfy the doctors’ demands.